Chapter Eight
So, already they had hit a snag.
Kagato paced across his chamber, a troubled expression on his face as he reviewed the previous night's dinner conversation. Inwardly he berated himself for not having been ahead of the game. The news of Misaki's baby had come as a complete shock, and he regretted it bitterly. So much for his spy network, he mused darkly, as he tossed himself down into his chair with very bad grace. They had let him down this time, and Aiko had found out about things first.
"But the question is, what now." He mused, running agitated fingers through his thick dark hair. "If Misaki's baby doesn't inherit Jurai's power, then there's no problem in it at all. Uncle Haru has never shown even the faintest flicker of magic and Lady Misaki herself is only related to the royal line through a distant cousin-ship or something of that nature. But I don't know - can I take the risk? Uncle Haru is fifteen minutes older than my mother, which means any baby of his would automatically take preference over me. And that means...what does it mean?"
He glanced up as he heard the sound of the door, a frown crossing his features as he saw Tessei standing there.
"My lord, you sent for me?" The knight's tones were smooth and mocking, and for some reason it riled Kagato's temper. He got to his feet, glaring at his hapless companion as he did so.
"I was under the impression that we had an arrangement, Tessei." He said quietly. "That you and Tetta would report your information to me, and in return I'd make sure you were paid for your services. Is that not still the case?"
"Yes, my Prince." Tessei seemed surprised. "You know that it is."
"Then why did I not know about Misaki-dono's baby until last night?" There was an edge to Kagato's tone, and Tessei frowned.
"We only discovered the information ourselves yesterday evening." He admitted, bowing his head in a gesture of submission, although from the knight's sneering air Kagato heartily doubted the man's sincerity. "My apologies, honoured Lord Kagato."
Kagato was silent for a moment, pursing his lips. Then, at length, he spread his hands.
"Very well." He said quietly. "But I'll tell you this, Tessei...and you can tell Tetta the same, when you see him next. My Grandfather is a fearsome man and a powerful Emperor. We know this to be the case. But if he were to discover that you both were selling his secrets to the highest bidder, can you imagine what his reaction would be? I don't think he'd take too kindly to knowing, would he?"
"But if I may, my Lord, that would also bring you into his line of sight." Tessei said softly, raising his head so that the prince could see his glinting red eyes. "Which would be an arrangement that suited none of us too well."
"True, but I am still his grandson." Kagato said flatly. "And even if he is displeased by my methods, he can't very well make me disappear. People would notice. On the other hand, two spying, greedy knights..."
He trailed off ominously, and was gratified to see a faint flicker of fear in the other man's gaze.
"And besides," he continued in more level tones, turning his gaze towards the window as he did so. "He's not the only one who might want to make you disappear, if there was any suggestion of your disloyalty to me."
"My prince, Tetta and I are sworn to the royal house of Jurai. We are your loyal servants in everything, you know that." Tessei said quickly. Kagato laughed, shaking his head.
"Sworn, perhaps. But loyal? I'm not sure." He said contemplatively. "But it's all right, Tessei. This time, I will forgive."
Flickers of whiteish energy flickered around his finger tips as he spoke, turning his attention back to his hapless companion, who visibly flinched at the sight of the simmering magic. Kagato nodded.
"I am a Prince of Jurai too, and don't you forget it." He said softly. "I have magic too - but unlike my grandfather, I don't have any qualms about ridding myself of you two if I have to. Don't fail me again, Tessei. I warn you, if you do, it will be the last time you do."
Tessei swallowed hard, his normal composure gone as he bowed low before his companion.
"We will do whatever it is my Lord Prince commands." He said quietly.
Kagato drew a deep breath of air into his lungs, calming himself as he made up his mind what was to be done. He nodded.
"Very well." He agreed quietly. "In which case, I have a particular errand for you to run for me."
"Yes, my Prince?" Relief flickered in the knight's bloodshot eyes as he regarded his master uncertainly.
"Lady Misaki must be congratulated on the imminent arrival of her baby prince or princess." Kagato said comfortably, settling himself back down into his chair as he beckoned for the man to come closer. "I wish to send her a token of goodwill, as I'm sure many of the court already are doing."
"My Lord?" Tessei looked confused, and a slight, humourless smile touched Kagato's lips.
"If Lady Misaki bears a healthy child, and that child carries Jurai's power within him, then my claim to Jurai's throne becomes no more than it is right now." He said softly. "With Yosho set to abdicate and my mother and Uncle Haru debarred the succession due to lack of magic, I would be in line to inherit Shigure-sama's throne after my uncle Azusa. This is not a position I want to give up lightly."
Tessei did not reply, and Kagato's eyes glinted thoughtfully.
"Do you understand what it is I ask of you?" He asked. Tessei hesitated, then,
"You want me to kill the Lady Misaki?" He asked quietly. Kagato hesitated for a moment, glancing at his hands.
"Would you do this thing, then, if I so commanded?"
"I am your sworn servant, my Prince."
"If only that were true." Kagato sighed. "Tessei, my concern is that Lady Misaki's baby must be removed as a potential threat. If the only way to do so is to remove Lady Misaki then yes, I suppose that will have to be the end result. But whatever it is you do, Tessei, make sure that it cannot be traced back to me. I want no violence, no suspicion. Just ensure that Misaki-dono's baby will never take a breath in this world, however it is you need to do it."
"Prince Kagato..."
"Yes?" Kagato fixed the knight with a cold look, and Tessei's mild sense of rebellion seemed to crumble under his gaze. He nodded his head.
"I will do as you ask me, my Lord." He said softly, bowing his head once more. Kagato smiled, but there was no emotion behind his expression, and inside of him he felt a coldness wash over his heart, as if ordering the death of a future relative had been a lot more easy than he had imagined it would. He raised a hand, gesturing for Tessei to leave the chamber and, after a moment, the knight did so, closing the door behind him as he went.
Once alone, Kagato reviewed the situation more clearly in his mind, pondering over his decision and the potential repercussions.
"Mother will be grieved if something happens to Misaki, but in the circumstances, she will just have to bear it." He decided. "My interests are more important to her than Misaki's, in the long run, and she will get over it, whatever it turns out to be. Perhaps it would be better, on reflection, if Misaki was not to survive Tessei's meddling. But that might also cause suspicion - so I will leave it in his hands. I know full well that Grandfather has used Tessei's deceit and subtlety to remove rivals from the court before now, and it's that kind of discretion I need now. While Tetta would probably have barged in there, weapons blazing, Tessei will take his time and consider his options before carrying out my instructions. How hard can it be to make a woman lose a baby, after all? Heaven knows that women at court moan about it all the time - how difficult it seems to be to bring a new life into the world. People will put it down to a simple, unlucky tragedy and then move on to better things. Meanwhile, my own claim to the throne is further assured...and I can proceed with the next stage of my plan."
He rose to his feet once more, moving to the window and resting his hands on the sill as he gazed out in the direction of his scientific research centre.
"Mikamo and the gems." He murmured. "Yes. Perhaps it all will come together much more clearly now, after all."
------
"Well, I never thought that a Prince of this planet would invite outsiders here to meddle in Jurai's magic."
Najya gazed up at the uneven, rising landscape, casting Washu a grin as she shrugged her shoulders. "Or that we'd be getting our hands dirty digging in volcanoes that I really didn't know existed on this planet. You live and learn something new every day, don't you, Washu? I didn't realise we'd be out in the field."
"Well, now that Mikamo has all of his team assembled, I suppose he wants us to begin our work right away." Washu settled herself down on the slope, sorting carefully through her equipment as she did so. "I have to say, Najya, that from what Mikamo-kun said this morning when he briefed us, this sounds like a real challenge. I hadn't heard this particular legend of Jurai, but it sounds like the sort of thing which is based in some fact, at least. The gems do exist, after all. And if Mikamo is right, well, awakening Jurai's power inside of them could well have far-reaching effects for the royal line. Although I admit it wasn't quite what I thought the Elders meant when they talked about people at a defecit."
"In short, it's just another way to give Jurai's royals more power." Najya looked amused. "But I suppose it isn't really fair that some are born with it and others aren't. And really, Washu, we're not from this world and when the project is done, we'll leave here. What they do to themselves isn't really our business, is it? Jurai haven't colonised any new planets for years now - the chances are they'll only use it to fight among themselves."
"Yes, no doubt." Washu dimpled, hovering her hands in front of her as her computer materialised out of thin air. She typed in a few lines of figures, then, "And I have to admit, my curiosity is getting the better of me. If these crystals are as powerful as Mikamo seems to think they are, well..."
"Washu, tell me something." Najya tilted her head on one side, regarding her companion thoughtfully. "I realise this is none of my business, but last night you were quite willing to put Niwase-sensei on a spit and roast him for all to see. This morning, you're calling him Mikamo-kun and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of hostility between you. Quite the opposte, in fact - I almost think there's a certain spark. What did he say to you yesterday, when you were alone? It must have been some talk."
"Najya." Washu blushed, the computer dispersing as her mind became distracted from the task at hand. Najya grinned.
"I knew it." She said triumphantly. "You made up. Didn't you?"
"Najya, keep your voice down!" Washu cast an anxious glance around her at the other scientists, but everyone was engrossed in their work and Mikamo himself was too far away to overhear them, busy supervising sample tests at the far side of the slope. "It's complicated. Very complicated!"
"Love always is, isn't it?" Najya rested her chin in her hands, eying her friend thoughtfully. "But I am right, aren't I? You did make up last night."
"I suppose we did." Washu sighed, her gaze straying to the scientist in charge as she did so. "But I don't know where it will lead. It's not quite how it was before, Najya. I mean, I know this time that he's a Lord of Seniwa underneath his white lab coat and goggles. He's high-born and me...well...his family already made it very clear what they thought of me. I don't know how we'll overcome it. Every sense of logic inside me tells me our probability of long term happiness isn't good. And yet, I can't pull away from him as much as I really want to. I don't like things that I can't quantify, but I can't help the way that I feel."
"I think it's sweet." Najya observed gently. "And you never know, Washu...they might come around."
"I doubt that." Washu said bitterly. "I'm only one or two shades removed from a demon, remember? There's no way they'd ever condone that kind of woman for their son's wife."
"You truly are Kii, huh?" Najya's expression softened. Washu nodded.
"Yes." She said sadly. "And it's haunted me almost as long as I've been alive."
"That's not your fault, though." Najya pointed out. "You can't help where you're born. There are some who'd treat me with suspicion because I'm from Airai, but that doesn't automatically make me a devil worshipper or a member of a dark cult. In fact, most Arians aren't like that at all. But the universe only ever seems to record the bad, juicy gossip rather than the good. So Airai is known for being subversive in it's magic, and people are afraid to trust us as a result. I imagine the same thing is true in your case, isn't it? I don't know a lot about Kihaku, but I know that there are certain magics associated with it, too. Am I right?"
"You are." Despite herself, Washu smiled. "Perhaps you understand better than most the stigma I live under, then, if people have that attitude towards Airai. I don't know, Najya. I've always had to hide myself, somehow. When I lived there, I wanted only to reach out and touch the world outside our boundaries. I wanted to learn from Jurai and the other planets, and explore all the things that were brought there. And now I've done that, but I still am a Kii. And people still see me as such, if they know my origins before they meet me. It's why I was so concerned when Mikamo told Kagato-dono about me. It might be cowardly, but I don't usually comment on my roots. I'd rather they knew me first, and judged me on those later."
"Well, I don't think any different of you. You can be whatever you like, I don't care." Najya shrugged her shoulders carelessly. "And as for Mikamo-sensei, I think he feels the same. He's meant to be overseeing samples up there, Washu, but his gaze keeps flitting this way, as if he'd rather be talking to you."
Washu's cheeks reddened.
"I hope he's not being that blatant." She said anxiously. "His family are friendly with Lady Aiko and if word got back to Seniwa that I was not only here but still involved in Mikamo's life, I don't know what they'd do to him. I don't want him hurt, even though he's hurt me enough in recent weeks. I guess that's just how it goes...for now we'll just hang on in there and see what little time we can snatch to be alone while we work out what we're going to do."
"I'm rooting for you." Najya said with a grin. "You make a pretty couple, you know."
"Well, you're the only one who thinks so." Washu said ruefully. "And we should get back to work. I don't want anyone having any excuse to doubt my commitment or my ability while I'm here, and that goes double now I know Mikamo had ulterior motives for including me in his little experiment. You're the geologist, Najya, so I vote we go through these things together. I know Mikamo said no further samples of this crystal have ever been thrown up since that eruption, but eruptions on Jurai aren't very commonplace. Seems like this volcano is already extinct - but do you think there's anything unusual in the composition of the soil?"
"All the elements on Jurai are unusual, it's part of the fascination with the planet." Najya responded, as Washu's computer materialised before them once more. "But there are higher levels of radiation in some areas than I would have expected. Not high enough to have any particular atmospheric effect...but just enough glimmers here and there to give credence to the old legend. From the readouts Niwase-sensei gave us this morning, I'd say that we're working on the same kind of radiation activity here as he has been in the lab. What do you think?"
"I think I'd agree with you." Washu nodded her head. "It looks very much like those crystals did come from Jurai's core, after all."
"That will please Prince Kagato."
"Yes." Washu looked thoughtful. "Najya, what are your impressions of our noble patron?"
"Honestly?" Najya looked surprised. "He seems a nice enough guy to me. Young, to be so interested in all of this, and a touch obsessive, perhaps. But we all have our quirks and it's nice that someone in a rich and priveleged family has chosen to use his brains rather than rely on his status. I think it's nice he has a hobby like this, and that Aiko-hime supports him in it."
"And as a man? You like him?"
"Why? Don't you?" Najya frowned. Washu shrugged.
"I don't know how to read him, yet." She admitted. "I'm pretty good at building first impressions, Najya, and...well, I don't know. There's just something...something I can't put my finger on, but it's there, at the back of my mind. It teases at me when I see him...like there's a big black shadow hanging over his shoulder and he doesn't even see that it's there."
"That is a very weird thing to say, Washu-chan." Najya laughed. "I thought you were a scientist, but you're starting to sound more like a clairvoyant."
"I know." Washu reddened, looking sheepish. "But I can't explain it any other way. He's nice and friendly and warm and he's been very welcoming to us. I don't feel that his welcome has been false or that he isn't genuinely glad that we're here. He's been the perfect gentleman and I can't fault him on any of it. But there's something deeper...and I can't quite figure it out at the moment. All I know is that it...makes me feel a little jumpy, when I stop and think about it. Like something is waiting to swallow him up, and once it does, that will be it."
"You're sounding crazier by the second." Najya teased. "I wonder if mild Juraian radiation can turn a genius nuts, or if you just already are nuts...what do you think?"
"No...I'm a Kii." Washu said pensively. "It's one of those things people tend to hate us for. We can read souls - at least, that's how it's always been described. When I look at someone, I always see their true nature shining through. When I met you, Najya, I knew you were a true and genuine person and someone I could always call my friend, no matter what. I was glad of it - and I enjoy spending time in your company. I can't explain how I know these things, only that I do...my instinct for people's character is one of the strongest traits a Kii has."
"I didn't know that." Najya looked interested. "I'm glad I passed your test, then. I guess I can see that people would be a little freaked out by something like that."
"Yes." Washu agreed. "Most people don't like thinking someone can see through their actions and their motives."
"And our noble Prince, then? What of him?"
"Well, like I say, I'm not sure." Washu frowned. "Some people are more complicated than others. Prince Kagato is one of them. Right now I'm not sure whether I trust him as much as Mikamo does, even though it's fairly obvious their friendship is genuine on both sides of the equation. And though he's been good to us and is clearly very fond of his mother, there was something else last night. Something that just made me, well, think again."
"I think you're over-analysing, Kii or not." Najya said softly. "You said yourself that he seems genuine, so let it go at that, huh? Like as not all the confusion of the last few hours plus the long trip messed with your senses, that's all. He seems like a nice man and his mother is a darling...he can't be that bad, with a mother like that on his side. Surely?"
"No, true. Lady Aiko is something else, but I liked her very much." Washu agreed. "All right, Najya, I'll bow to you and I'll drop it. In truth, I'd rather think of Prince Kagato as a noble patron, rather than, well, some kind of demon in waiting."
"Demon in waiting? Now you are being melodramatic." Najya raised an eyebrow. Washu smiled ruefully.
"Probably." She agreed. "So, back to our sampling. After all, demon or angel, the Prince will want to know we're making some kind of progress in all of this!"
As they headed back towards the research centre, samples and data gathered for the day, Mikamo dropped down to speak to them, casting them warm smiles as he fell into step with the two scientists.
"You two have been thick as thieves all morning." He observed. "I trust you found something interesting, Najya-san?"
"Yes, actually, we did." Najya's eyes twinkled mischievously, and Washu rolled her eyes as she saw the colour heighten in Mikamo's cheeks.
"We made a connection between the radiation levels here and the information you gave us this morning, in the lab." She said quietly. "It seems more than likely that there's truth in the old Jurai legend - although if you don't mind, I'd like to read the story over for myself when we get back. Just to see if we've missed anything important."
"Be my guest." Mikamo recovered himself, nodding his head. "Kagato left the book in my safe keeping, when I told him that you could read the language. I think he was thinking along the same lines."
"Perhaps." Washu acknowledged. Mikamo gazed up towards the climbing Juraian sun, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"We should break for lunch." He observed. "It's getting to that time, and people will be hungry."
"Not me...I'm fine, actually." Washu shook her head. "If you don't mind, I'd just like to stop in the lab and read it all over. If that's okay with you."
"If you want." Mikamo nodded. "I may stay back myself. I want to look at some samples of my own that aren't connected to the project."
"I'm sure you both will have a very hard-working lunch break." Najya's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, don't worry!" As Washu shot her a pointed look. "I'll keep my lips sealed. And I'll leave you both to it. I don't want to be playing third wheel - and even if you people aren't, I'm hungry!"
"Good choice." Washu bantered, and Najya winked at her. Mikamo grimaced in their direction, then turned to face the remaining scientists, raising his hand in the air to get their attention.
"We'll break for lunch and reconvene in thirty minutes, in the main laboratory." He said, his clear, crisp tones carrying across the open landscape. "Make sure everything you've collected is properly filed. We have a lot of work to do and we're only just beginning, so we don't want to have to go back to basics and re-sample the whole area."
"You sound like a school-teacher, when you talk to them like that." Washu said critically, as the scientists hurried to do his bidding, disappearing into the building to file their specimens before heading out to find food. "But they listen, so I guess that's not a problem."
"Stop it." Mikamo scolded. "I never liked you judging my departmental techniques when we were at the Academy, and I don't need it here, either."
"Sorry." Washu smiled at him innocently. "I have a tendancy to speak my mind, sometimes."
"I'll see you both in a half hour, then." Najya said with a smile. "Don't get up to too much, will you? We are working on Prince Kagato's time, after all."
With that she was gone after the other scientists, leaving Mikamo and Washu to exchange rueful glances.
"She has a hope." Mikamo said flatly. "Kagato walks in and out of this place at random a whole lot...it's not the most secure place to conduct a secret affair, even if we had time to do so, in half an hour."
"That's good to know." Washu said reflectively. "He keeps close tabs on his people, I suppose. That makes sense."
"Well, this project is very important to him." Mikamo sighed. "So yes, I suppose so."
"What exactly are we doing this for, Mikamo-kun?" Washu asked softly, as they made their way slowly into the main laboratory, noting that already it was deserted. "I mean, is this really about transferring and augmenting the magic in volcanic crystals? Or what? Kagato-dono has the Jurai Power already, doesn't he?"
"Yes, he does - but how do you know that?" Mikamo frowned. "I don't remember saying..."
"You didn't, but it shines from him like a beacon." Washu settled herself on an empty table, crossing her legs as she pondered. "From his mother, too. If they already have it, why does he care so much about raising it in others?"
"Lady Aiko?" Mikamo stared. "No, Washu - she doesn't have it. But Kagato does."
"Well, whatever you say." Washu shrugged her shoulders. "I saw the same glow about her as he has. His is stronger, but they both had something about them. Hard to explain it in any other terms than this mystical magic these people are supposed to possess."
"I gave up trying to fully understand Jurai's power a long time ago." Mikamo admitted. "And Kagato's interest...is in the security of his planet. That's really all I can say about it, Washu-chan. Really. He's concerned that something might happen whereby there might one day be an heir that doesn't have Jurai's power...and he fears civil war if the event occurs."
"I see." Washu's eyes narrowed. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact we didn't eat at the main court last night, would it?"
"Meaning?" Mikamo's brows drew together in confusion. "Aiko-hime often likes to eat in her own quarters."
"All right." Washu shrugged. "Just I heard the men on the transport ship discussing snippets of a court scandal...something about the heir to the throne and an unsuitable woman. Is Kagato perhaps anticipating that if something happens to this heir to the throne, there might be trouble on Jurai?"
"You are too smart sometimes." Mikamo sighed. "I can't tell you anything about it, because I'm sworn under an oath of secrecy and I can't break that. Not even to you. But draw your own conclusions, Washu. The gems might prove very important - not just for this generation, but future ones as well. If we can make it work."
"I'm sure we will. You're pretty good with this transferance business." Washu remarked. Mikamo pursed his lips.
"Well, this is even more of a challenge." He admitted. "Come with me...I'll show you."
"All right." Washu nodded, slipping down off her table and following her companion into the back room of the laboratory. At the furthest end, a glittering metal door indicated a safe and as Mikamo typed in the correct combination, the outer door swung open. He repeated the procedure for the inner door, then beckoned for her to join him.
"Those are the gems we're dealing with." He said softly, gesturing into the vault. "I can't touch them, and nor can you...only the royal line of Jurai can lay fingers on these things. Kagato thinks it's something to do with the fact they're part of Jurai's core...the same core that's supposed to give the family their magic."
"That makes sense." Washu nodded, peering into the darkness at the small glittering shards of crystal that lay within. "They're so small, but even from here I can feel their energy. Doesn't seem to me like they need much amplification."
"Refinement is probably a better word." Mikamo admitted. "They have magic within them, but noone is quite sure how to bring it out or how to focus it to it's best advantage. That's where we come in."
"Interesting." Washu thought this over carefully. "But how can we do anything if we can't touch them?"
"Well, I'm working on that. Some kind of confinement unit to make them more easy to transfer." Mikamo admitted. "So far I've not had much luck in that department - but strong alloys are not my forte. I'm a geologist, really...and I deal in rock formations and energy transferance."
"You want me to look into it?" Washu asked. Mikamo smiled.
"If you would, it would be a weight off my mind." He agreed. "Thank you, Washu-chan. I'd appreciate it."
He swung the door shut, resetting the combination and then repeating the action with the outer door.
"And now you've seen what we're up against, you know a little more about our project." He added. "Satisfied?"
"Yes and no." Washu agreed. "But if you're sworn to secrecy on something, I can't pry into that. If I do, they'll have me sent away, and since this is the only place we can be together at the moment, I'm not interested in leaving Jurai."
"I'm glad to hear that." Mikamo's expression softened. Washu shrugged.
"You should be." She said, embarrassed. "You're lucky you got a second chance."
"There is one other thing I wanted to ask you about, Washu-chan." Mikamo looked thoughtful. "That serum of yours - the stuff you fed me. Do you have more of it with you?"
"Yes." Washu looked startled. "Why? Someone you want to drug? Or are you having some kind of side-effect? Because if you are..."
"No, I'm quite fine." Mikamo shook his head. "I'm just curious, that's all. You do things sometimes that fox me completely, and all I've managed to find out about this stuff is that it's highly toxic and a potential hallucinogen. But I leave some of it with you and you create a truth serum in a matter of weeks...sometimes your science amazes me."
"I was bored, and Clay was annoying me." Washu pinkened. "But it's not really as wonderful as it sounds. The formula is safe but not all that strong. I mean, if someone is aware they've taken it, I doubt it would have much effect. You and Clay were both unsuspecting victims, so it worked on you. But I didn't have time to meddle with it further. And as you say, the base is toxic. I didn't want to accidentally poison anyone."
"That makes sense." Mikamo nodded. "But as a matter of science, it's interesting. I brought some samples of my own with me, hoping to find some positive use for them. It occurs to me that there are organisations like the Galaxy Police who could make good use of such a serum. If it was perfected."
"Ye-es." Washu looked thoughtful. "It could also be abused, though."
"True, but you open Pandora's box when you start dabbling in interrogation fluid." Mikamo reminded her. "Besides, you trust me, don't you? I promise you I'm not going to use it for nefarious purposes. Or at all, really. I just want to see how you did it...and if you want me to drink some of it before you believe me, I'm game."
"No, that won't be necessary." Washu laughed. "I trust you. And I'll tell you. But listen, Mikamo. We're working on the gems while we're here. If the Academy got to finding out I'd been working on this as well, I'd be in trouble. I don't have any paperwork to do it - you know how they feel about things like this. So if anyone finds out what you're doing, you're going to have to tell them it's your work, not mine. All right? Brilliant as you think it might be - I can't be linked to interrogating members of my own staff with illegal serum."
"If that's what you want." Mikamo nodded his head. "Though it seems a shame, since it's your genius that thought it up."
"Believe me, it's safer this way. I don't want to give Clay any reason to cause me trouble." Washu pulled a face. "Bad enough I'm away from the department. Kichi and Manami will keep things ticking over, I'm sure - but with me here, Clay effectively is in authority. Whilst he can't change any of my projects without my consent, he can cause plenty of trouble in my absence. So...if you don't mind...I'd rather distance myself from this particular breakthrough. I wouldn't have used it on anyone here, but...I needed to know things about you and...and us."
"It's all right, I'm really not angry." Mikamo assured her. "Just curious. We'll make time to discuss it, after hours tonight if you like. Does that suit you?"
"All right." Washu nodded her head. "It'll be my pleasure."
Before Mikamo could respond, the door of the lab flew open to reveal an agitated Najya, and both scientists stared at their third in disbelief, seeing the look of gravity in the woman's eyes.
"Najya! What's happened!" Washu was the first to react, a frown touching her expression.
"You have to come with me. Prince Kagato wants you, Niwase-sensei." Najya caught her breath, her expression one of anxiety. "Lady Misaki has collapsed, and they can't locate the palace physician."
"Me?" Mikamo's eyes opened wide with disbelief. "But I'm not a doctor. I mean, I never..."
"Kagato-dono said you once undertook medical training here on Jurai, before you left to join the Science Academy and follow other paths." Najya said breathlessly. "Please, Niwase-sensei - I don't know what's wrong with her, but she looks really pale and everyone is in such uproar!"
"Then I suppose I'd better come, though I don't know if I can do anything to help." Mikamo frowned, biting his lip. "Washu, Najya, will you come with me? This sounds serious."
"Of course." Washu looked grave, nodding her head. "Considering the news Aiko-hime gave us last night, it seems probable that this is something to do with the baby. I hope that the Juraian court's hopes of a new heir aren't going to be short-lived."